What Is Personal Injury Protection?
Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, covers medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of who's at fault. Texas auto policies automatically include $2,500 of PIP coverage unless you reject it in writing.
What PIP Covers
- Medical bills for you and your passengers.
- Lost wages if injuries keep you from working.
- Certain household services you can't perform while recovering.
- Funeral expenses in the event of a fatal accident.
PIP vs. Health Insurance
PIP pays out regardless of fault and typically responds faster than health insurance, without deductibles or copays for covered expenses. It's meant to bridge the immediate gap after an accident, before other coverage kicks in.
PIP vs. MedPay
Both cover medical costs, but PIP goes further, also covering lost wages and essential services. MedPay is narrower and typically cheaper, but doesn't replace income lost during recovery.
Do You Need More Than the State Minimum?
The default $2,500 in Texas is often not enough to cover a serious injury. Increasing PIP coverage is usually inexpensive relative to the protection it adds, especially for drivers without strong health insurance of their own.
Can You Reject PIP?
Yes, but it must be done in writing. Rejecting PIP means you'd rely solely on health insurance or the at-fault driver's liability coverage for your own medical costs, which can leave real gaps depending on the situation.
